After a dry start to winter much of western and southern WA is now being soaked by widespread rain, a trend likely to continue during the next seven days. The rain developed on the west coast on Thursday afternoon as a trough deepened off the coast before spread inland overnight. Most of the Central Wheat Belt picked up at least 10mm by 9am Friday, including 16mm at Kellerberrin, their heaviest rain so far this year. Jurien Bay with 36mm also received their highest fall so far in 2008. A front will maintain rain across the west and south of the state through Saturday, lifting totals by Sunday to at least 20mm from Albany to Exmouth. Rain will be lighter inland but much of the Central Wheat Belt and Great Southern should receive at least another 5mm. The rain will clear by Monday but there are positive signs much of WA will receive more rain around the middle and end of next week.